President Donald Trump said Sunday that he does not want American businesses importing products from Canada as trade tensions between the neighboring countries continue to intensify.
Trump made the declaration in a Truth Social post while defending the tariffs imposed by his administration and crediting those policies with strengthening the American automobile industry.
The president argued that his tariffs had “revived, and indeed saved” the domestic auto industry, pointing to profits reported by Ford, General Motors and other U.S. automakers during his second term in the White House.
Trump then turned his attention to Canada, accusing the country of taking advantage of the United States through its trade policies for years.
The president labeled Canada “one of the worst abusers” in trade after his administration’s 50% import taxes on approximately $27.6 billion in Canadian goods took effect earlier this month.
“They’ve been ripping us off for decades, and it’s going to stop,” Trump wrote. “This should have happened long ago with other Presidents, just as stopping Iran should have happened long ago.”
Trump also took aim at the Canadian government’s approach to its relationship with the United States, claiming its leaders want the country to receive treatment similar to that of an American state.
The president said Canada wants “to be treated like a State, but they aren’t one.” He added that although he deals “with the Leadership of many Countries,” Canada is “the worst.”
“They are entitled no longer!” Trump concluded.
The latest round of U.S. tariffs covers a wide range of products imported from Canada, including wine, natural honey, hockey sticks, cement and wallpaper.
Overall, the duties affect approximately 5% of all American imports from Canada. U.S. businesses imported nearly $382 billion worth of Canadian goods last year, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs scheduled to take effect Sept. 8. According to the country’s Department of Finance, those countermeasures will target American goods in several industries, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, and pulp and paper.
The Canadian tariffs will be set at rates of 15%, 25% or 50%, depending on the particular product. Canada plans to match the rate imposed by the Trump administration for each affected category.
The escalating dispute comes as both governments impose new costs on selected imports from the other country. Trump, however, has made clear that he wants American companies to move away from Canadian products entirely.
His latest comments build on his repeated criticism of Canada’s trade relationship with the United States and his claim that previous presidents failed to address the issue. Canada, meanwhile, is preparing to answer the American tariffs with matching levies of its own.
[READ MORE: Trump Blasts New York Times Reporter Maggie Haberman Over 9/11 Ceremony Report]
